Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in customer premises equipment

Abstract

A power control apparatus for controlling power consumption in customer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content and data distribution network includes a detector, operative to determine an operational status of a connection between the CPE and a headend in the content and data distribution network, and a controller coupled with the detector. The controller is operative to place the CPE in a first mode of operation when a power failure event is not present and the operational status is indicative of a loss of connectivity between the CPE and the headend. The apparatus further includes switching circuitry coupled with the controller. The switching circuitry is operative in the first mode to disable power to a first subset of functional modules in the CPE, to thereby reduce power consumption in the CPE.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for reducing power consumption in customer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content and data distribution network, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining, at the CPE, an operational status of a connection between the CPE and a headend in the content and data distribution network; 
 determining, at the CPE, whether a power failure event is present at the CPE; 
 when a power failure event is not present at the CPE and the operational status is indicative of a loss of connectivity between the CPE and the headend, placing the CPE in a first mode of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation, power to a first subset of functional modules in the CPE is disabled to thereby reduce power consumption in the CPE; and 
 when the power failure event is present and when the operational status is indicative of a presence of connectivity between the CPE and the headend, placing the CPE in a second mode of operation, wherein in the second mode of operation, power to a second subset of functional modules in the CPE is disabled, the first subset of functional modules being greater than the second subset of functional modules. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether a power failure event is present at the CPE; and 
 when the power failure event is present, powering the CPE from an uninterruptable power source. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining an operational status of the connection between the CPE and the headend comprises monitoring at least one characteristic of the connection between the CPE and the headend. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining an operational status of the connection between the CPE and the headend comprises monitoring a front end in the CPE to detect an energy level on at least one channel for a service with which the front end is in communication. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the front end comprises determining whether the energy level on the channel exceeds a prescribed threshold level. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy level comprises a quadrature amplitude modulation signal level. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining an operational status of the connection between the CPE and the headend comprises monitoring at least one of communications received by the CPE from the headend, and monitoring a synchronization signal from the headend. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the communications received by the CPE from the headend comprises at least one of data traffic, voice traffic, a Data Over Cable System Interface Standard (DOCSIS) channel carrier, and out-of-band messaging signals. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining an operational status of the connection between the CPE and the headend comprises periodically monitoring at least one characteristic of the connection between the CPE and the headend. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein periodically monitoring at least one characteristic of the connection between the CPE and the headend comprises at least one of controlling an amount of time the connection is monitored and controlling an amount of time between successive connection monitoring intervals. 
     
     
       11. A power control apparatus for controlling power consumption in customer premises equipment (CPE) for use in a content and data distribution network, the apparatus comprising:
 a detector in the CPE that is operative to determine an operational status of a connection between the CPE and a headend in the content and data distribution network; 
 a controller coupled with the detector, the controller being operative to place the CPE in a first mode of operation when a power failure event is not present and the operational status is indicative of a loss of connectivity between the CPE and the headend; and 
 switching circuitry coupled with the controller, the switching circuitry being operative in the first mode to disable power to a first subset of functional modules in the CPE to thereby reduce power consumption in the CPE, 
 wherein the detector is operative to determine whether a power failure event is present at the CPE, and when the power failure event is present and when the operational status is indicative of a presence of connectivity between the CPE and the headend, the controller is operative to place the CPE in a second mode of operation, wherein in the second mode of operation, power to a second subset of functional modules in the CPE is disabled, the first subset of functional modules being greater than the second subset of functional modules. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the detector is operative to determine whether a power failure event is present at the CPE, and when a power failure event is detected, the switching circuitry is operative to power the CPE from an uninterruptable power source. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the uninterruptable power source comprises a battery. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the uninterruptable power source resides within the CPE. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the detector is operative to determine the operational status of the connection between the CPE and the headend by monitoring at least one characteristic of the connection between the CPE and the headend. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the connection comprises at least one of data traffic, voice traffic, a Data Over Cable System Interface Standard (DOCSIS) channel carrier, and out-of-band messaging signals. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the detector is operative to periodically monitor at least one characteristic of the connection between the CPE and the headend. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising timing circuitry coupled with the detector, the timing circuitry being operative to control at least one of an amount of time the connection is monitored and an amount of time between successive connection monitoring intervals.